Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-22
wild eyes toward the burning hou

"There she 1sn' cried she.
Mrs. Ely was running out of the front
door with box in her hand. Her son
in-law staggered after her with a table on
his shoulder,
"Don't you go in again, mother" said
he.
! There were other men helping to carry
out the goods, and they chimed in. mo,
cried they, " faint safe. Don't you go
in again, Mis- Ely"
Marg'Iet ran up to her. "Them cur
ta1ns," gasped she, San the parlor car
pet hev they got them out?"
"Oh, I dun know dun know. I'm
afraid they ein't. Oh, they amt got
nothin' out! Everything all burnin' up!
On, dear me! oh dear! Where be you
goin'?"
Marg'ret had rushed past her into the
house. She was going into the parlor,
when a man caught hold of her. "Where
are you going?" he shouted. "Clear out
OF this"
tains an the carpet"
sit amt any use. We staid in there
| just as long as we could, trying to get
the carpet up; but we couldn't stand it
any longer; it's chock full of smoke"
1
along with him at the same time.
There! said he, when they were out in the
road; ''look at that" There was a flicker
of golden fire in one of the parlor win
dows. Then those lace curtains bIazed.
''There!n said the man again: 81 told you
it wasn't any use."
Marg'ret turned on him. There was
many other men within hearing ''Well,
I wouldn't tell of it," said she, in a loud
voice. "If I was a pack of stout, able
bodied men and couldn't ha' got out them
curtains an that carpet afoIe they burnt
up, wouldn't tell Of it."
Flora and the children had been taken
into one of the neighboring houses. Mrs.
Ely still stood out in the freezing air
clutching her box and wailing. Her SON
in-law was trying hard to persuade her to
go into the house where her daughter
was.
Marg'ret joined them. 81 would go if
was you, Mis- Ely" said she.
"No, amt goin'. I don't care where
be. I'll stay right here in the road.
Oh, dear mer'
Don't take on so.''
ST ain't got thing left but Jest my
best cap here. I did get that out. Oh
dear! everything's burnt up but jest this
cap. It's all I've got left. I'Il jest put
it on an set right down here in the road
an freeze to death. Nobody III care. Oh
dear! dear! dear!'
ooh, don't, Mis- Ely" Marg'ret, al
most rigid herself with the cold, put her
hand on the other woman's arm. Just
then the roof of the burning house fell
in. There was q shrill wall from the
spectators.
"Do come, mother" Sam begged, when
they had stood staring for moment.
eyes, do go, "Mis' Ety." said Marg'ret.
''You mustn't feel So"
cts easy 'nough to TALK said Mrs.
Ely. '"Tain't your house; and if twas,
you wouldn't had much to lose-nothin'
bat passel of old wooden cheers an
tables"
81 know it," said Marg'ret.
Finally Mrs. Ely was started, and Mar
g'ret hurried home. She thought sad
denly of the children and the money.
But the children had not walked in all the
tumult, and the money was where she had
left 1t. She did not go to bed again, but
sat over the kitchen stove thinking, With
her elbows On her knees, until morning.
When morning came she had laid out one
plan of action.
That afternoon she took some of her
money, went up to Mr.. Whites store, and
bought some Noting ham lace curtains
like the ones her neighbors had lost.
They were off the same piece.
That evening she went to call on Mrs.
Ely and presented them. She had tried
to think that she might send the parcel
anonymouslyIleave it on the door step;
but she could not.
"'Twon't mortify me so much as twill
the other way" said she, "an' I'd ought
to be mortifed.n
SO she carried the curtains, and met
with semblance of gratitude and real
ity of amazement and incredu lity, which
shamed her beyond measure.
After she got home that night she took
up the Bible, then laid it down. ssHere
I've been talkin' an worryin' about gittin'
up higher notch,' said she, "a an kind
OF despisin' Mis- Ely when I see her on
one. Mis- Ely wouldn't have stole. I
amt nothin' side of her now, an never
kin be-"
The scheme which Marg'ret had laid to
confront Mrs. White YVES never carried
out. Her defiant spirit had failed her.
One day she went there and begged for
| WITH d4u, LII WIll1H To 90 'I0OSG
anything" said she. I'll come an de
your washin', Or anything, an don't
want no pay"
Mrs. White was going away the next
day, and she had no work to give the old
woman; but she offered her some fuel and
some money.
Marg'ret looked at her scornfully. give
got money enough, thank ye," said she.
'My son sends me five dollars a week"
The other woman stared at her with
amazement. She told her husband that
right that she believed Marg'ret Poole
was getting little unsettled. She did
not know what to make of her.
Not long after that Marg'ret went into
Mr.. Whites store, and slyly laid some
money on the counter. She knew it to
be enough to cover the cost of the arti-
cles stolen. Then she went away and left
it there.
That night she went after her Bible.
Il declare I will read it tonight" NUT
tered she. GIVE paid fur 'em." She
stood cycling it. Suddenly she began to
| crv ooh dearn she orOaned. ssT can't